Census of Bangladesh RMG sector workers needed - Expert

August 12, 2014 (Bangladesh)

Alongside looking into compliance issues, a census of workers and their characteristics working in the Bangladesh apparel industry should also be carried out to propel growth, delegates at a seminar were told.

Dr Binayak Sen - Research Director at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) said this at a seminar titled 'Challenges of RMG Industry and Way Out' held in Dhaka, organized by Chintar Chash, a research-oriented organization.

Dr Sen said the survey should be included in the plan formulated by BGMEA. During the course of his talk, he spoke about other issues like compliance, safety standard and labour rights.

“Since the United States seems to be worried about compliance issues, it should be engaged in compliance financing in Bangladesh, while Bangladesh should follow its own labour rights instead of international standards”, Dr Sen said.

Before shifting garment units from the capital, Dr Sen called for an inter city connectivity.

Former President of BGMEA, Abdus Salam Murshedi said if lands, utilities and financial support needed for backward linkage industries are provided, Bangladesh has potential to earn US$50 billion from exports within next five years.

Former Government adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said, “Bangladesh has advanced forward due to its unique advantage of cheap labour cost, but skilled labour will dominate the industry in future. So, this must be looked in to right now."

Dr Rahman called the sub-contracting a threat to the apparel manufacturing industry and also called for accommodation, better health, communication and worker-owner relations in the interest of the industry.